Atmospheric Pollution Research最新文献

{"title":"Evaluation of the control effectiveness in mitigation acid deposition in a valley city in China","authors":"Yaoqian Zhong ,&nbsp;Yaqian You ,&nbsp;Ya Yan ,&nbsp;Longjie He ,&nbsp;Wei Tong ,&nbsp;Jia Xing ,&nbsp;Jianwu Shi ,&nbsp;Ping Ning ,&nbsp;Jiming Hao","doi":"10.1016/j.apr.2025.102766","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.apr.2025.102766","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In valley cities, gaseous precursors emitted from near-source can rapidly deposit and give rise to localized acid rain. The presence of local slope changes and convective meteorology facilitates the convergence of pollutants, thereby reducing the likelihood of atmospheric SO<span><math><msub><mrow></mrow><mrow><mn>2</mn></mrow></msub></math></span> and NO<span><math><msub><mrow></mrow><mrow><mi>x</mi></mrow></msub></math></span> being transported to other regions through atmospheric movement, while increasing their susceptibility to exacerbating the acid deposition process. In our study, a decade-long dataset of precipitation samples was collected and analyzed. Subsequently, emission scenarios were simulated using high-resolution nested domains in the meteorological field-driven source-directed CMAQ model generated by the WRF model. Our findings demonstrate that effective management of regional SO<span><math><msub><mrow></mrow><mrow><mn>2</mn></mrow></msub></math></span> emissions plays a pivotal role in regulating precipitation pH. Two control scenarios (reduction and relocation) conducted an evaluation and comparison of these approaches. The source reduction scenario effectively ensures that annual average SO<span><math><msub><mrow></mrow><mrow><mn>2</mn></mrow></msub></math></span> levels remain below the threshold of 24 <span><math><mrow><mi>μ</mi><mi>g</mi><mo>/</mo><msup><mrow><mi>m</mi></mrow><mrow><mn>3</mn></mrow></msup></mrow></math></span> by maintaining total industrial emissions below 2,561.62 tonnes. However, it is important to note that there are significant seasonal variations in industrial emission limits due to climate and precipitation. In the migration scenario (ignoring terrain), the environmental SO<span><math><msub><mrow></mrow><mrow><mn>2</mn></mrow></msub></math></span> in the study area was significantly reduced by an average of 16 <span><math><mrow><mi>μ</mi><mi>g</mi><mo>/</mo><msup><mrow><mi>m</mi></mrow><mrow><mn>3</mn></mrow></msup></mrow></math></span>. Compared with source abatement, the relocation of energy-intensive industries to regions characterized by lower relative humidity mitigates pollution impacts on mountainous cities and ensures long-term economic benefits. Under complex terrain and small range of special meteorological conditions, the influencing factors of air pollution process and how to implement effective control strategies deserve continuous attention.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8604,"journal":{"name":"Atmospheric Pollution Research","volume":"17 2","pages":"Article 102766"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-09-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145963386","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Ozone effects in coffee (Coffea arabica L.) plants: Cultivar-specific responses and risk assessment","authors":"Barbara Baesso Moura ,&nbsp;Marisa Domingos ,&nbsp;Emerson Alves da Silva ,&nbsp;Jacopo Manzini ,&nbsp;Elena Marra ,&nbsp;Leonardo Lazzara ,&nbsp;Rodrigo Fazani Esteves Sanches ,&nbsp;Elena Paoletti ,&nbsp;Yasutomo Hoshika","doi":"10.1016/j.apr.2025.102768","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.apr.2025.102768","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The environmental sustainability of agricultural production faces critical challenges due to climate change, with tropospheric ozone (O₃) being a significant concern. This study investigates the dose-response (DR) relationship between O₃ exposure and leaf biomass (LB, as a proxy of coffee production) reduction in three coffee cultivars (<em>Coffea arabica</em> L. cv. Geisha, IAC99, and IAC62) using both exposure- (AOT40) and flux-based (POD_Y) indices. Experiments were conducted in a Free-Air Controlled Exposure (FACE), where plants were exposed to ambient air (AA), 1.5 × AA, and 2.0 × AA O₃ levels. The study reports the O₃ visible foliar injury (O₃_VFI) on <em>C. arabica</em> leaves for the first time. It also reveals that O₃ significantly reduced total LB in the Geisha and IAC62 cultivars compared to the less affected IAC99. The stomatal conductance model was parametrized to estimate stomatal O₃ uptake and understand each cultivar's physiological response to O₃ stress. The Geisha and IAC62 cultivars exhibited higher stomatal O₃ uptake due to relatively high maximum stomatal conductance (<em>g</em>_max) values compared to IAC99, leading to greater biomass loss under elevated O₃ conditions. The DR analysis identified POD_1.5 as the most appropriate index for assessing critical O₃ levels (CLs) for LB losses. Linear regression was suitable for representing the DR relationships, and the O₃ CL for a 4 % and 10 % LB reduction was estimated at 0.29 and 0.73 mmol m⁻² POD_1.5, respectively. These findings underscore the necessity of cultivar-specific studies for accurate O₃ risk assessment and management in coffee production.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8604,"journal":{"name":"Atmospheric Pollution Research","volume":"17 2","pages":"Article 102768"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-09-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145963394","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Variations in aerosol optical properties and their sensitivity to elemental carbon: insights from year–round observations in Suzhou, China","authors":"Dong Chen ,&nbsp;Zhuzi Zhao ,&nbsp;Zhaolian Ye ,&nbsp;Jiandong Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.apr.2025.102767","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.apr.2025.102767","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Current research predominantly emphasizes elemental carbon (EC) light absorption, while ignoring its relationship with aerosol hygroscopic scattering. In this study, concentrations and optical properties of aerosol components were measured during a full–year monitoring campaign at an urban site in Suzhou. Results from a multiple linear regression model suggested that secondary organic carbon was a primary contributor to high mass absorption efficiency of EC in summer. Through the estimation of aerosol scattering coefficients under both dry and ambient atmospheric conditions, it was found that hygroscopic growth accounted for more than 35.0 % of the total aerosol scattering coefficient. Hygroscopic growth of nitrate and sulfate enhanced their annual mean scattering contributions by 42.1 % and 45.2 %, respectively. A negative correlation between EC concentration and the hygroscopic growth factor (f(RH)) was observed under varying relative humidity (RH) conditions. Associated with the decrease in f(RH), reductions in PM_2.5 scattering coefficients (14.0 ± 2.2, 29.4 ± 5.2, and 24.5 ± 8.2 Mm⁻¹) were linked to EC concentration increases of 0.37 ± 0.1, 0.40 ± 0.1, and 0.21 ± 0.1 μg/m³ under low, medium, and high RH conditions, respectively. An increase in EC concentration by 0.19–0.37 μg/m³ elevated the PM_2.5 absorption coefficient by 2.66–5.41 Mm⁻¹, and reduced the scattering coefficient by 10.53–17.91 Mm⁻¹. Collectively, increased EC concentrations reduced aerosol single scattering albedo (SSA), particularly under high RH conditions. This study reveals that EC not only reduces aerosol extinction coefficients but also shifts aerosol radiative forcing in a positive direction by suppressing hygroscopic scattering.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8604,"journal":{"name":"Atmospheric Pollution Research","volume":"17 2","pages":"Article 102767"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-09-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145963389","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Bioaerosol and their health risk assessment: A multi-location yearlong study over an urban non-attainment city","authors":"Jyotishree Nath ,&nbsp;Sony Pandey ,&nbsp;Boopathy Ramasamy ,&nbsp;Trupti Das","doi":"10.1016/j.apr.2025.102764","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.apr.2025.102764","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Bioaerosols are an integral part of myriad toxic components in ambient particulate matter (PM) that pose a serious health risk while contributing to degradation of air quality. In this context a yearlong (June 2022–May 2023) diversity study of bacteria, fungus and PM_2.5 in ambient air was conducted at three distinct locations- dump yard (DY), open market (OM), and clean office campus (OC) at Bhubaneswar, a major non-attainment city in eastern coast of India. Antimicrobial resistance profiling and health risk assessment analysis was also performed. The overall bacterial concentration at DY (105 ± 10), OM (204 ± 21), and OC (34 ± 05) CFU/m³ × 10² was higher than that of fungus at DY (12 ± 05), OM (14 ± 06), and OC (10 ± 07) CFU/m³ × 10². <em>Bacillus</em> and <em>Aspergillus</em> were common across all the three sites. Biomolecular profiling revealed maximum bacterial diversity at OM with the presence of gram-negative pathogens such as <em>Pseudomonas</em> and <em>Stenotrophomonas</em>. Irrespective of the site, all the bacterial and fungal strains were susceptible to azithromycin and canditral, respectively. Most of the strains from OM and DY were resistant to the antimicrobial agents. Health risk assessment showed the vulnerability of children to microbial exposures and males to short-term inhalation. Correlation analysis revealed a positive and negative association with PM_2.5 and temperature respectively. The current findings provide novel seasonal data in ambient air of an urban set up on microbial diversity, their anti-microbial properties and hazard index. These are crucial information for the stakeholders and urban planners.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8604,"journal":{"name":"Atmospheric Pollution Research","volume":"17 2","pages":"Article 102764"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-09-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145963347","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Seasonality, trends, and SOA formation potential of anthropogenic volatile organic compounds: Implications for pollution","authors":"Annada Padhi,&nbsp;Satheesh Chandran P.R,&nbsp;Suvarna Fadnavis","doi":"10.1016/j.apr.2025.102765","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.apr.2025.102765","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Assessing the global distribution and characteristics of anthropogenic volatile organic compounds (AVOCs) is vital considering ongoing policy objectives. Due to the diversity in AVOCs emission sources and complex atmospheric transformation processes, understanding their seasonal cycles and role in forming secondary organic aerosol (SOA) is particularly important. We conducted a long-term analysis of ECHAM6-HAMMOZ (European Centre Hamburg version 6; HAM, Hamburg Aerosol Model; MOZ, Model for Ozone and related chemical tracers) model data, illustrating the spatial distribution of AVOCs simulated from 2001 to 2019. Sensitivity experiments involving doubling global anthropogenic volatile organic compounds emissions (DVOCS), compared to the control (CTL), reveal a significant increase (∼68 %) in AVOCs concentrations and pronounced seasonal variation during this period. Our findings show a rising trend in average AVOCs concentrations in Central Africa (∼0.003 ppb yr⁻¹), India (0.012 ppb yr⁻¹), and China (0.001 ppb yr⁻¹), alongside declines in the U.S. (−0.008 ppb yr⁻¹) and Europe (−0.01 ppb yr⁻¹) from 2001 to 2019. These regions exhibit high AVOCs concentrations from December to February and the lowest levels in June to August. Furthermore, doubling emissions results in an approximate ∼84 % increase in the secondary organic aerosol formation potential (SOAP) of AVOCs, with peak SOAP levels occurring during winter. Our study suggests that rising AVOCs emissions will enhance SOA formation, thereby increasing secondary particle pollution.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8604,"journal":{"name":"Atmospheric Pollution Research","volume":"17 2","pages":"Article 102765"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-09-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145963352","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Novel approaches for real-time probabilistic source term estimation of puff releases in urban microenvironments","authors":"John G. Bartzis ,&nbsp;Spyros Andronopoulos","doi":"10.1016/j.apr.2025.102762","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.apr.2025.102762","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>When a deliberate or accidental release of an airborne hazardous chemical, biological or radiological pollutant/agent occurs, there is need for timely and effective response. It is essential for the ‘operator in charge’, once a specific pollutant is detected, to be able to know as soon as possible, even in real time, besides the potential location, the estimated amount of the release and its associated uncertainty. Within this context, a radically new modelling concept is under development based on the combined use of existing atmospheric dispersion models together with the new knowledge gained by the in depth studies of the pollutant concentration stochastic behaviour. The new method has been applied with remarkable success for continuous releases in urban microenvironment. This paper expands the method to puff releases, i.e., nearly instantaneous or with time duration of seconds or minutes. It is noted that for a release of such duration the path of the puff is completely stochastic putting additional challenges in the relevant modelling approaches. The proposed method is evaluated through a case study drawn from the Joint Urban 2003 (JU2003) field experiments and concerns successive nearly instantaneous puffs of SF₆ tracer gas released at street level in a built-up urban centre (Oklahoma City). The results have shown the strength of the proposed approach to cope with such challenges by producing good results in real conditions even with limited input.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8604,"journal":{"name":"Atmospheric Pollution Research","volume":"17 2","pages":"Article 102762"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-09-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145963345","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Pollen harvested from trees as a biomonitor of atmospheric pollution by semi-volatile compounds in an urban area: benzo(a)pyrene extracted from samples of Cupressus sempervirens pollen grains and PM10","authors":"Juan J. Hidalgo-Barquero ,&nbsp;Selena Carretero-Peña ,&nbsp;Eduardo Pinilla-Gil","doi":"10.1016/j.apr.2025.102763","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.apr.2025.102763","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Benzo(a)pyrene (BaP), a known toxic air pollutant regulated by ambient air quality regulations, can adhere to pollen grains from the gaseous phase or bound to adsorbed atmospheric particles. This study investigated the applicability of a method based on microwave extraction and HPLC-FD (fluorescence detection) to measure BaP attached to airborne pollen samples of <em>Cupressus sempervirens</em> collected from the urban area of Badajoz (Spain) during the species' peak pollination month (February) to assess the variability of BaP levels. After testing the analytical quality of the method, we sampled and assayed pollen samples collected from trees located in Badajoz (Southwest Spain) urban areas, finding BaP levels ranging between 84.9 and 140.6 μg kg⁻¹. The results were significantly higher than those measured in pollen samples collected at a rural unpolluted site (mean value 87.7 μg kg⁻¹). As a reference, we simultaneously measured PM concentration (PM₁₀, PM_2,5 and PM₁) and BaP concentration in PM₁₀ samples collected by high-volume sampling at an official air quality surveillance unit in the city (range 2.39–11.29 mg kg⁻¹). BaP levels in the pollen samples assayed reflect the urban variability in terms of emission sources contributing to BaP pollution, with higher values in pollen collected from trees in urban locations exposed to dense traffic and lower values in quiet pedestrian areas. These results suggest that <em>Cupressus sempervirens</em> pollen grains harvested from trees could be effective air pollution biomonitors for atmospheric BaP in urban areas.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8604,"journal":{"name":"Atmospheric Pollution Research","volume":"17 2","pages":"Article 102763"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-09-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145963346","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A new strategy to simulate daily spatial distributions of urban air pollutants based on land use regression in Wuhan, China","authors":"Ya Tian ,&nbsp;Gang Xu ,&nbsp;Rui Xiao ,&nbsp;Hui Lin","doi":"10.1016/j.apr.2025.102760","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.apr.2025.102760","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study develops daily-scale land-use regression (LUR) models to simulate high-resolution spatiotemporal maps of air pollutant concentrations in Wuhan from November 2015 to October 2019. Eight buffer scales ranging from 100 m to 5000 m are established around the monitoring sites and incorporate geographic prediction variables, including land use, elevation, nighttime light, road length, and population density. By analyzing the temporal variation in six air pollutants (PM_2.5, PM₁₀, NO₂, O₃, CO, and SO₂), this study further evaluates how predictor effects vary with spatial scale. Results show that the relationships between geographic prediction variables and pollutant concentration varies across different scales, with the most frequently selected scales in the models being 100 m and 500 m. Moreover, this study finds that built-up land within 3000m contributes 22.92 % to overall pollutant levels and 43.54 % to PM₁₀ concentration. Therefore, this study not only overcomes the limitations of traditional LUR models in capturing fine-scale temporal resolution but also provides a basis for health impact assessment of air pollution.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8604,"journal":{"name":"Atmospheric Pollution Research","volume":"17 2","pages":"Article 102760"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-09-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145963343","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Urban atmospheric volatile organic compounds pollution in Kazakhstan: Trends, sources identification, and health risk assessment","authors":"Olga P. Ibragimova ,&nbsp;Anara Omarova ,&nbsp;Kazbek Tursun ,&nbsp;Diana Sovetova ,&nbsp;Bauyrzhan Bukenov ,&nbsp;Nassiba Baimatova","doi":"10.1016/j.apr.2025.102761","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.apr.2025.102761","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are significant atmospheric pollutants that cause adverse effects on climate and public health, impact demographics, and economic losses. VOCs contribute to the formation of ground-level ozone and secondary organic aerosols (SOA), exacerbating smog and global warming. While VOCs are recognized globally as precursors, regions like Kazakhstan lack sufficient monitoring and assessments for effective air quality. This first comprehensive, year-long study (2022–2023) conducted in two urban cities in Kazakhstan assesses seasonal variations, characterizes sources using HYSPLIT and diagnostic ratios, and quantifies health risks. Annual 18 VOC concentrations were 0.07–12.03 μg/m³ in Almaty and 0.10–5.52 μg/m³ in Astana. HYSPLIT results demonstrated Almaty's seasonal VOC variations reflect local and transboundary sources, peaking in winter due to stagnant conditions, while Astana's air masses consistently revealed influences from petrochemical, combustion, and industrial activities. Almaty exhibited a higher cumulative non-carcinogenic risk (HI = 0.66) than Astana (0.27), with benzene, xylenes, and naphthalene as main contributors. HI exceeded the risk threshold (21 out of 97 sampling days) in winter and spring in Almaty, while Astana's risks remain negligible. Mean cumulative lifetime cancer risk (LTCR) in Almaty (3.14 × 10⁻⁴) indicated a higher cancer risk (314 cases/million) than Astana (103 cases/million), with benzene as the primary contributor to LTCR (Almaty: 67.6%, Astana: 87.0%). VOCs' reactivity linked xylenes, toluene, and pseudocumene contributed &gt;80% to ozone formation potential, and BTEX &gt;96% to SOA formation potential in both cities. The study recommends prioritizing regulations on reactive VOCs (BTEX, pseudocumene), with stricter benzene limits to meet WHO standards and reduce health risks.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8604,"journal":{"name":"Atmospheric Pollution Research","volume":"17 2","pages":"Article 102761"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-09-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145963344","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Characterisation of ambient Mercury concentrations at Marapong, South Africa: A case study","authors":"M.D. Belelie ,&nbsp;B. Moiloa ,&nbsp;A. Moatshe ,&nbsp;P. Mukwevho","doi":"10.1016/j.apr.2025.102759","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.apr.2025.102759","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Atmospheric mercury (Hg), particularly in its gaseous elemental form (GEM), remains poorly characterised in the Southern Hemisphere and across the South African interior. This study presents the first GEM measurements for the Waterberg-Bojanala Priority Area (WBPA), using data collected at the Marapong monitoring station. Despite limitations in data capture, the study provides critical baseline insights into GEM variability and its potential sources in a semi-industrial region influenced by both local and regional emissions. Hourly GEM concentrations ranged from 0.18 to 52.67 ng/m³, with a mean of 2.06 ± 1.06 ng/m³, exceeding both the Southern Hemisphere background range (0.85–1.05 ng/m³) and the Northern Hemisphere background range (1.5–1.7 ng/m³). Seasonal patterns showed elevated GEM concentrations in summer and winter, with diurnal variations linked to boundary layer dynamics. Strong correlations with CO and weaker associations with NO, NO₂, and SO₂ point to combustion-related sources, including nearby coal-fired power stations and domestic fuel use. HYSPLIT trajectory analysis, along with PSCF and CWT modelling, highlighted significant local influence, as well as episodic transport from regions such as southern Mozambique, where artisanal gold mining is common. While South Africa has ratified the Minamata Convention on Mercury, the country lacks formal ambient Hg standards or emission thresholds, besides having recently published regulations on the management of Hg. These findings underscore the urgent need for expanded monitoring, regulatory development, and targeted emissions controls to manage Hg pollution in South Africa's interior.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8604,"journal":{"name":"Atmospheric Pollution Research","volume":"17 2","pages":"Article 102759"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-09-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145963342","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}